The Illinois State mens golf team looks to make a big move up in the district rankings when it travels to San Antonio, Texas, Monday, Feb. 28. The 2005 Roadrunner Intercollegiate features a strong field with four teams that are ranked above the Birds, affording them the best opportunity this year to move up in the standings.
The Redbirds are currently ranked No. 13 with Kansas (No. 3rd), Wichita State (No. 6), Missouri (No. 8), and Nebraska (No. 11) ahead of them in the district. Oak Hills Country Club, home of the SBC Champions Tour, hosts this years tournament. Head coach
Ray Kralis knows what kind of opportunity this tournament affords his team.
Last weekend was a great springboard for our spring season, Kralis said. We are facing four teams that are ranked above us in district standings. It is a great opportunity to move up in the rankings. We can do that by getting ahead of those teams, and then we need to create some separation in order to jump up in the district.
Seniors Denny Bull and Kyle Vasel, along with junior Matt Maskel and sophomores Anthony Imburgia and Matt Miller will make the trip to the Lone Star State. These five Redbirds come off an 8-1 loss in match play against Illinois last weekend at the Tinervin Cup in Florida. Kralis knows what he needs out of his golfers.
The key to playing good golf is patience with 54-holes, Kralis said. In stroke play it is the golf course against yourself. Our guys are eager to get back to stroke play and are ready to compete.
A field of 18 teams will be competing in this years tournament including: UTSA, Long Beach State, Wichita State, North Texas, Iowa State, Stephen F. Austin, Baylor, New Mexico State, Air Force, Kansas, Louisiana-Monroe, Northern Iowa, Rice, Arkansas-Little Rock, Missouri, Nebraska, and the Mexico National Team.
The Birds begin competition with 36-holes on Monday at 8 am, and finish with 18 on Tuesday.
